The dimensionality of niche space allows bounded and unbounded processes to jointly influence diversification.

ABSTRACT: There are two prominent and competing hypotheses that disagree about the effect of competition on diversification processes. The first, the bounded hypothesis, suggests that species diversity is limited (bounded) by competition between species for finite ecological niche space. The second, the unbounded hypothesis, proposes that innovations associated with evolution render competition unimportant over macroevolutionary timescales. Here we use phylogenetically structured niche modelling to show that processes consistent with both of these diversification models drive species accumulation in conifers. In agreement with the bounded hypothesis, niche competition constrained diversification, and in line with the unbounded hypothesis, niche evolution and partitioning promoted diversification. We

SUBMITTER: Larcombe MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6189034 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature